In its efforts to boost tourism in Abuja, the FCT Administration in partnership with private investors has commenced the development of the Ultra-Modern Jabi Lake Resort in the Phase II of the Federal Capital City, where over N334 billion (about 2 billion US Dollars) would be expended.
The FCT Minister, Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed made this disclosure today while receiving the Executive members, Nigeria Young Professionals Forum paid him a courtesy call in his office.
The Minister reiterated that when the Resort is completed it would take Abuja to the next level in promoting tourism and by extension generating the required revenue to augment budgetary allocation from the Federal Government.
Mohammed remarked that the Federal Government has made a lot of investment in the Federal Capital Territory by providing seed money and now the time has come for the FCT Administration to create institutions, structures in terms of legal framework to leverage on private funding by way of competition to take Abuja to the next level.
The Minister assured that this crop of leadership in the FCT Administration is determined to set standards and benchmark on how things ought to be done and driven for the betterment of all residents of the Territory without recourse necessarily to government funding.
He said that the FCT Administration has received marching order from President Goodluck Jonathan to build human capital and institution as well as partnership in accordance with the global best practice.
Senator Mohammed urged the Forum to use its contacts across the globe to woo investors to come and invest in Abuja; saying that Abuja is a haven for genuine investors.
Conscious of the need to promote tourism, the FCT Administration gave priority to the on-going construction of the Abuja Millennium Towers at the Central Business District where work at the site has reached an appreciable stage of completion.
He added that government was presently considering collaboration and partnership with competent private investors to complete the multi billion Naira landmark project.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the Nigeria Young Professionals Forum, Moses Siloko Siasia stated that the Forum is yearning for positive change and called for partnership with the FCT Administration.
The Chairman called for support to enable the Forum take the driver’s seat to bring about the much-needed development of the entire country.
